Requiem For Athens

by David Alkek

  He said to his bodyguard, "Do not walk ahead of me or surround me as I enter the amphitheater. I don't want everyone to think that I am afraid to go to my sister's wedding without a guard." He smiled, and the officer of the guard nodded to his men, who parted away from the king.

  Philip stepped down the covered walkway and noticed Pausanias. He remembered the guard who had been abused by his fellows, and nodded to him. Pausanias bowed his head to the king. As Phillip passed close to him, Pausanias pulled a knife from under his cloak and thrust it deeply under the king's ribs. He pushed up to the hilt with all his anger behind it, hoping to reach the heart.

  Philip gasped and stumbled. He fell to his knees, coughing up blood. A spout of red followed the knife as it was drawn from the wound and began to flow down the stone walkway. His crown fell to Alexander's feet, who picked it up. He knelt by his father, lifting his head and holding him in his arms.

  Alexander could hardly believe what was happening. He bellowed like an animal, tears filling his eyes. He screamed, "The king is murdered." Blood covered his hands and cloak as tried to staunch the crimson flood coming from Philip. He looked around to see if there were other conspirators, who would assassinate him also, but no others threatened him.

  Pausanias was immediately disarmed and grabbed by nearby guards. His defense was useless, as his bloody knife lay at his feet. Alexander saw Attalus make his way to the king and look at his mortal wound. He glanced at Alexander with a warning look and walked over to Pausanias. He slapped the young men hard. "You have killed our king, who would have led us to conquer Asia."

  Pausanias spit in his face. "I care not about Asia. I killed him because he would not redress the wrongs that you allowed. I will have my trial and shout to the world how you let your men ravage me."

  Attalus reached down and picked up the fallen knife, and calmly wiped it on Pausanias' cloak. "You have had your trial, and you are found guilty of the murder of King Philip of Macedon. A sentence of death is passed." He reached up and grabbed Pausanias' hair, jerked back his head, and slit his throat. Pausanias choked and crumpled, blood pouring from the gaping wound.

  Alexander watched Attalus execute Pausanias then looked down at the dying figure in his arms. His father's eyes were fluttering, the light of life fading. He could see that his lips were trying to form his last words, "Alexander, my son..." Then there was a last sigh, and his eyes became fixed.

  "The king is dead," Alexander croaked. He could barely register the fact. This man, who had Greece under his fist and would conquer Asia, was gone. What would happen now? Who would take his place?

  Chapter 19

  Philip was only forty-seven and at the height of his power, when he was cut down by Pausanias. He was the bravest of the brave, even grudgingly admired by his enemy, Demosthenes. A true leader of men, he commanded from the thick of battle, leaving a part of itself on every battlefield. He had lost an eye, broken a shoulder, and partially paralyzed an arm and leg to fulfill his goals of strengthening Macedon, unifying Greece, and preparing to invade Asia.

  He left Alexander an impressive inheritance. In addition to the best trained and equipped army in the world, Alexander inherited lands directly governed or allied to Macedon from the Adriatic to the Bosporus, and from the tip of Greece to the Danube. Under Philip, Greece was unified and politically stable. He had done what Greeks had never been able to do for themselves.

  Even so, many Greeks, especially in the larger cities of Thebes and Athens, found Philip's controls hard to bear. Political stability for them was not worth the price of the loss of liberty to conduct their own affairs. Alexander had also inherited this rebellious attitude of the Greek states. But first he had to secure his position as heir to the throne, which was not totally assured. The throne of Macedon was not hereditary, the kings being elevated by common consent of the army and its leaders.

  Alexander put on mourning garments and followed the carriage that carried his father's body back to the capital. Philip’s generals accompanied him, as well as the representatives of allied cities. News had preceded them to Pella and the streets were lined with weeping and wailing citizens, tearing at their clothes. Army officers and soldiers followed the king's cortège to the palace, where the body was laid on a stone altar.

  The generals took Alexander out onto the balcony of the palace, overlooking the large plaza and the assembled Macedonian troops. The soldiers and citizens in the open area and streets leading to it, watched in hushed anticipation. The chief generals flanked Alexander. Antipater on his right raised Alexander's arm and shouted, "Hail Alexander, King of Macedon." He knew that Alexander was Philip’s chosen heir. He had proven his leadership and courage in battle. The army loved this handsome young warrior with a magnetic personality. The people all yelled, "Hail Alexander, King of Macedon," as the troops beat their spears on their shields.

  He was only twenty years of age. The ambassadors who had gathered for the wedding were skeptical that this inexperienced boy could hold together Philip's kingdom, much less the allies and the Greeks.

  Alexander was no young fool, however. He had been carefully prepared by his father for years. He had observed closely how power worked, both in the palace and in the world outside of Macedon. He was precocious in mind as well as body. His father had left him in charge at Pella once when he was only sixteen. He had a good judgment of men and their loyalties, and had an uncanny ability to manage events in crises.

  In his veins flowed the blood of two very different individuals. Alexander had his father's talent for organization, military strategy, and leadership. He also inherited his weakness for drunken excess. From his mother, Alexander received his sense of divine destiny, that he was a descendent of the gods. In addition, she gave him his darker nature, which could lead to bloodthirsty slaughter and torture. He would excel both.

  Olympias moved quickly to gain Alexander's ear. "You must kill anyone who has any claim to the kingdom," she said. She sat in the large chair that she had used when she was mistress of the royal palace. She wore a long robe of red and blue wool with threads of silver. Her snake belt of woven gold encircled her waist. She fingered a bronze replica of a snake in her lap.

  Alexander paced in front of her. "I know what I must do, Mother."

  "Attalus and his niece Cleopatra and her son by Philip must die," she demanded.

  "I have already given the order. They will be taken care of."

  "What about your half-brothers? Surely all the sons of Philip's other wives have to be eliminated."

  "I don't want to appear as a Persian tyrant, who kills all his brothers when he attains the throne," Alexander said. He faced his mother and spread out his hands. "After all, some of my half-brothers are close friends, who are loyal to me, and will serve me well. I will find out if any of them plan anything against me."

  "How will you know who to trust and who to arrest?"

  "I have my informers."

  Alexander listened to his mother, and knew what he had to do. He left her and began his plans. He was threatened from all sides, from within and without. Conspirators at home were anxious to carve up the kingdom. Rebellions in the north and in Illyria broke out. Demosthenes had returned to Athens and was again making trouble among the Greeks. Some of Alexander's generals advised him to let the Corinthian League and the Greeks go their way and to concentrate on securing Macedon.

  Alexander met with Antipater, for his father’s closest adviser was now his. He stood before the raised platform and chair that the king sat upon, when addressing important gatherings in this large room. Paved with colored marble, it was lined with stone benches above which were carved and painted scenes of Philip's victories.

  "I will not give in to rebels in the north or in Greece," he was explaining to Antipater. "If I let them have their way, I will appear weak. If they succeed then what is to stop others of our allies from breaking away. Our neighbors will invade us."

  "That is sound reasoning, Alexander. But you must act soon, befo
re our enemies can gather strength."

  "What do you suggest, my old friend?"

  "First, you must be sure of the loyalty of the generals. They command the army. Without it, you have no power whatsoever.”

  "That is very true." Alexander stood, silently considering his strategy. "The Companions and rank and file of the phalanxes and cavalry love me. I am convinced of that. I must assure myself of the generals." He faced Antipater with his legs wide, hands on his hips. As if issuing a command, he said, "bring all the chief officers to this room at noon tomorrow. Tell them we must prepare our plans."

  "Yes, Sire." Antipater bowed his head slightly and left.

  Alexander faced the situation with the decisive energy that set the pattern for the rest of his life, that was not to wait for events to play out, but to face them with decision and action. He knew that he had to appear as a king and to act like one. Before the meeting with his officers, he put on his carefully polished best armor. He entered the room after everyone was assembled and strode purposefully to the raised platform. He sat on the throne until there was silence, then rose and addressed the men.

  "I am Philip's son and true heir. I have demonstrated that his blood flows in my veins by my command and victory at Chaeronea. He built Macedon into its greatest power. Now his alliances and victories are threatened by revolt and conspiracies, which are planning to finish the work of Pausanias. They wish to kill me and divide the kingdom, to return to the old days in which tribe and noble and general all fought one another for petty power.

  "As Philip's successor, I will not allow that to happen. I will protect the legacy he left me, and carry on his plan to invade Asia. Though the name has changed, the king remains."

  The generals looked at one another, nodding in agreement. Most wore their armor, some only a short undergarment or tunic. These were hard men, veterans of many wars, and accustomed to the discipline of Philip's army. This was an untried youth on the king's dais. He had proven himself and one major battle, but he was king in name only. He still must prove himself in their eyes.

  Alexander continued his speech, stirring up their patriotism, their loyalty to Macedon, and to King Philip's legacy. The generals all agreed with their young leader, nodding, and from time to time saying yes, or beating their chest in salute. "With your help," Alexander continued, "I will destroy any conspirators; I will crush the northern rebels; I will bring the Greek allies back under our protection; then, as ordained by the gods, we will invade Asia, and fight our true enemy, Persia." He raised his voice to a shout, "Are you with me?"

  They all yelled, "Yes!"

  "Do I have your undying loyalty unto death?"

  They all yelled again, "Yes!"

  "We are with you, Alexander," one said.

  "We will follow you as we followed your father," said another.

  They all started to affirm their loyalty. Alexander held up his hands for quiet, as well as acknowledging their affirmations. He knew now that he had them behind him. "Thank you all. I know you will serve me, as you did my father. Now we must make plans.

  "Aretas," he said to the officer in charge of the king's security, "round up any persons suspected of conspiring or aiding conspirators who are against us. Torture them if you must to uncover all of the traitors.

  "My generals, mobilize the army and prepare it to march south into Greece. We must show them our strength, and that we mean to enforce the League of Corinth, and all of its stipulations."

  He turned to another officer. "Lead a scouting party north and find out what the northern tribes are doing. Take with you Thracians and Illyrians who know how to infiltrate and spy.

  "Now, let us all get busy and we will retain the power Philip left us." His energy was contagious. It filled his generals, not only with the desire to do his bidding, but with the will to conquer all opposition. They knew now that they had a leader that they could follow. They set about their duties with enthusiasm and determination.

  Within a few days the cells were full of suspected conspirators. Alexander condemned a few of them to death. “All possible opposition must be removed at home before I can safely venture to face our enemies abroad. I want to make an example of them. I want them to be beaten in public and beheaded." His orders were obeyed. Some of his half- brothers, Attalus, Cleopatra, and her son were murdered in private.

  * * *

  In Athens, on hearing of the assassination of Philip, Demosthenes rejoiced and put on festival garb. He had the major streets and meeting areas festooned with banners and flowers. People walked through the streets shouting and celebrating the news. Many of the leaders of the party opposing Philip copied Demosthenes, and put on their more colorful clothes, placing vines and wreathes around their heads.

  He called for the Assembly to meet, and mounted the speaker's platform with a garland of flowers on his head. He acknowledged the cheering throng, that spilled out of the seating area, and raised his hands for silence. With a smile as big as the Parthenon, he said, "I rejoice that the despot, King Philip of Macedon, who would enslave all of Greece, is dead." All of the people rose in hysterical shouts and applause. Those who had supported Philip were not present. They feared that the young Alexander would not be as forceful a leader as his father, and their hope for Greek unity was lost.

  Demosthenes continued, "An assassin's dagger has freed all of Greece again. We Greeks love our freedom, and chafe under the yoke of tyranny, especially when it is disguised. No one shall tell us what to do, even if it means Greek unity. For the price of unity is too high, if it means slavery.

  "The northern tribes in Thrace and Illyria are already in revolt. Many Greek cities have renounced their allegiance and Ambraciotes has expelled its Macedonian garrison. Athens and Thebes must lead the way in demolishing the League of Corinth.

  "The great King of Kings, Artaxerxes of Persia, has boasted that it was he who had instigated the killing of Philip. No doubt, his gold is still finding its way into the pockets of certain people in Macedon, who would be opposed to invasion of Persia. Artaxerxes says that he has nothing to fear from the stripling who has taken Philip's place. I say that we should not fear this boy either. We must take this opportunity to revolt against the fist of Macedon.”

  Shouts of approval filled the air. "Death to Alexander, "yelled some.

  Others shouted, "Down with Macedon."

  Still others screamed, "War!"

  Demosthenes raised his hands for silence. "As a symbol of that rebellion, I place before the Assembly a proposition that it vote a crown of honor for Pausanias. He gave his life so that ours may be free. He was not an assassin, but a patriot, who delivered us from the bloody hands of a tyrant." The Assembly roared with approval and unanimously voted the honor to Pausanias' memory.

  It was not long afterward that the rest of Greece soon declared itself absolved from Macedonian rule, since Philip was dead. The revolt of all Greece was imminent.

  * * *

  News of the events in Athens and the rest of Greece came quickly to Pella. Philip had placed his ears throughout those cities. Alexander knew what he must do. He must show decisive will and overwhelming force in pacifying Greece, before he could fight the rebels in the north. The generals had prepared the army and it was ready to march. Within days the surprised city of Thebes found it at its borders. The Greeks realized they were not dealing with a weak heir of Philip. The alarming news of the Macedonian advance spread throughout Greece. Alexander soon received delegates from the Greek cities.

  "Most of the Greek states have renewed their allegiances, Alexander," a senior general reported. “They have reconfirmed on you all the rights and honors they had given to your father."

  "What of the League of Corinth?" Alexander asked.

  "A meeting of all the Greek states, except Sparta of course, has proclaimed you captain general of all the Greeks, and have promised to contribute men and supplies for an Asiatic campaign."

  Within a few days, Alexander had heard from Athens. "Athens sends
you its profuse apology," stated the meek ambassador.

  "What of that thorn Demosthenes and the Assembly that he leads by the nose?" Alexander said with squinted eyes.

  "Demosthenes has been silenced. Those that oppose him have convinced Athens that she alone cannot resist your power. The Assembly bowed to that reality. In fact, they voted to give you two crowns of victory and conferred upon you divine honors. I present you with those laurels." The ambassador laid the two wreaths at Alexander's feet.

  Alexander saw how fickle the Athenian Assembly was. He also was aware that marching armies and cold steal create the true reality. "Tell the Assembly that I accept their honors. I am flattered to receive them. As a mark of my good intentions I will send notice to all the Greek states that are members of the League, that all dictatorships are to be abolished. Each city shall be free to live according to its own laws. I merely ask, like King Philip, that they do not war against me or each other." He had taken a page out of Philip's book, and coated the cold steel with honey. He knew how sensitive the Greeks were about their precious independence, and he needed their support.

  "Thank you, Sire." The Athenian representative was relieved by Alexander's generosity, and left to report it to his city.

  Alexander, now assured of his security in Greece, returned to Pella to put the capital in order and put down rebellion in the north.

  Chapter 20

  Only a day after Alexander had returned to his capital Olympias came to see him. "The news preceded you that the Greeks have reconfirmed Philip's powers on to you. Congratulations, my son." She kissed him on the cheeks

  "Thank you, Mother. Even the Athenian Assembly voted me divine honors."

  "As well they should, since you are the son of Zeus."

  "All dangers are not resolved, however," Alexander admitted. "I must put down the revolts in the north."

  "You must also crush any thoughts of rebellion here at home. There are still grumblings about your succession. I think you must arrest and execute all your half-brothers, and anyone else that has given aid or comfort to the conspirators."

  "The army loves me. They respect my courage and leadership. They will follow me."